Carnew Mart in Co. Wicklow held its annual Belgian Blue-bred weanling bull and heifer show and sale on Wednesday, September 9, with a larger entry than in previous years — more than 500 head — and, according to the mart's Eugene Clune, "an outstanding trade from start to finish".

"A huge crowd attended the sale and the specialist farmers and exporters were both very active for the selection of calves on offer," Clune told Agriland. The heifers, he said, were quality suckler-bred stock mature enough to go to the bull within months, and buyers came "from far and wide".

Heifers mostly sold between €4.50 and €5.50/kg, with many lots over €6/kg and the top animals close to €8/kg. A 494kg Belgian Blue-cross heifer topped the sale at €3,250; a 384kg heifer made €3,000, and two others of 460kg and 474kg made €2,800 apiece.

Bull weanlings also sold to an outstanding trade, Clune said, with five shippers active around the ring alongside specialist farmer feeders buying the bigger bulls. A 496kg Limousin-cross bull made €3,420 and a 430kg Limousin cross €2,440; among the Belgian Blue crosses, a 390kg bull made €2,700, a 426kg bull €2,590, a 369kg bull €2,100 and a 274kg bull €1,750.

"This led to a full clearance with most bulls selling between €5–€5.50/kg, with the top bulls selling over €6.50/kg and bulls making up to €6.92/kg for 390kg," Clune said. Breifne O'Brien reported the sale for Agriland.

Source: Agriland